Jeremy Guscott: My fab four could make any team in the world

The Northern Hemisphere possesses some brilliantly talented players who would be comfortable playing in any team because they are that good. The Southern Hemisphere normally produces the IRB Player of the Year and are looked at as having the most skilful individuals. As true as that rings most of the time, 2013 has seen some seriously talented players perform in the Northern Hemisphere.
I have been particularly impressed with George North, Jonathan Davies, Sean O’Brien and Christian Wade.
Jonathan Davies is really challenging to be recognised as the best outside- centre in the world. A measure of how important he is to his country came in his last game for Wales against South Africa in the autumn when he was the Dragons‘ most dangerous attacker – and he played only 12 minutes before coming off injured.
His performances for the Lions would normally have earned him player of the tour if it wasn’t for the brilliant match-winning kicking of Leigh Halfpenny.
You have to play with what you’ve been given, and not try to be someone or something you’re not. Jonathan Davies has a good build for centre, just over six foot and around 16st 3lbs with reasonable but not electric speed. He has developed a bit of a kicking game, but, although it doesn’t yet feel or look natural, it’s another skill that marks him out as a very valuable player to have in the team.
He’s scored nine tries in 37 internationals which isn’t bad considering in his time with Wales they have only a 54 per cent winning record – but that rises to 79 per cent when you look at his games in the Six Nations alone.
A try-scoring centre in any team is an asset especially when he can do the basics so well. I hope the opportunity he’s gone for in France doesn’t backfire because Vern Cotter the maestro at Clermont is leaving and I’m convinced Davies would have benefitted greatly from his guidance.
Sean O’Brien at times looks unstoppable when carrying the ball. When I watched him against the All Blacks in the autumn he carried with such menace and purpose I thought he’d seriously hurt someone at contact.
When he plays like that he’s one of the best in the world in a position that has had, and does have, a lot of greats attached to it.
Is O’Brien a No7? In the modern day I would say he is, because there are plenty of players playing at 7 today who aren’t out and out turnover specialists or guys who instinctively look to pass and support.
O’Brien tends to give a few penalties away but that’s because he’s on the edge. Trying to be Richie McCaw takes some doing, but he should learn.
There is no doubt O’Brien’s greatest asset is his ability to carry the ball at a good speed and either run through tacklers, or, as I would prefer to see, run at more space and deliver a pass or two. It’s about picking the best time to take on the world.
He’s a quality player who can still improve a lot – he’s been playing first class rugby for only four seasons and, at 26, he’s got a good few more seasons ahead.
Christian Wade is simply scintillating and he would have got an opportunity for England in the Autumn Internationals if it weren’t for the injury he picked up.
I’ve been guilty in the past of looking at a player like Wade and thinking, “is he really big enough to play international rugby?” That is wrong, so wrong.
Wade has a skill set and speed that means he will be more of a handful for the opposition than they will be for him. He has to live with the fact that if a cross kick/pass comes his way he’s unlikely to win the jump for the ball, but he can definitely make it difficult for the opposition catcher.
Last season Wade was joint top scorer in the Aviva League and made the most clean breaks. In all areas of attack he’s in the mix as the best statistically. For a winger he passes the ball a lot, which tells you he’s looking at other players being in better positions than him.
His sheer speed can make any of the best defenders in the world appear average. One-against-one over 10 yards I would back him every time to beat the defender. He has an eye for the gap himself and an eye for a teammate, which tells me he understands the game very well, and that he’s generous for a winger.
With a player like George North it’s easy just to look as the size and build of the man and believe he was born to play rugby. If big was the only criteria rugby clubs would be bursting to full. North has size, althleticism, speed and a will to pursue what’s required to be the best. He believes in simple hard work and application.
North’s played 35 times for Wales and only once come on as a sub. He’s played three Tests for the Lions, scored two tries, and been part of a winning Lions tour – and he’s still only 21.
North comes across as very down to earth. When he’s interviewed he doesn’t always come out with the stock answer – he says what he actually believes. It’s refreshing to hear, because that honesty is so lacking these days when we normally hear only rehearsed replies.
I’m not saying it’s easy to be honest, because it’s a team game and sometimes making a truthful comment can have an impact on a teammate which is wrong to air publicly. However, there are ways of being honest and open when interviewed that won’t drop team-mates in the mire. Players need to learn that quickly because they will do themselves a lot of favours coming across as genuine.
You get the feeling North has been brought up to understand the benefits of having good life skills that we should all learn as youngsters, but sometimes don’t take any notice of or forget. He seems to have a great work ethic; I’ve heard a story or two of him being told to stop training such is his keenness to do more to improve.
He already has an aura about him that would encourage most parents to say to their young kids playing rugby, look at George North, he’s player you should aspire to be like.
His try in the first Test for the Lions in Brisbane was a magical piece of individual brilliance that showcased a lot of his special qualities. The kick from Berrick Barnes wasn’t the best, the chase was poor because the Aussies weren’t expecting the kick, and it gave North time.
He took the kick on his own 10m line, stepped inside Pat McCabe and was far enough ahead of James O’Connor, whose tap tackle on the big fella failed. North sped to the Aussie 10m line with only Barnes to beat, and when he rushed up, North stepped off his right to leave him tackling fresh air. Will Genia, who was tracking from the side had no real chance of stopping him, but North uncharacteristically pointed the finger and carried on for a few more yards to score.
The finger waving was unnecessary, he apologised very quickly after the game and it was the right thing to do. It in no way took any gloss off what was in anybody’s book a superbly taken try.
North is going to reach 100 caps quite comfortably so long as he doesn’t suffer too many serious injuries. For his sake we all hope any injuries are minor because at his current rate he will score another 30 odd tries for Wales – and I’m looking forward to seeing them all.